Poughkeepsie Shuffle

by Dietrich Kalteis

Published by ECW Press

Cover design by David A. Gee

Typesetting by Erika Head

Author photo by Andrea Kalteis

A crime novel of astonishing detail and scope set in the 1980’s and written by the award winning author of Ride the Lightning and House of Blazes, both medal winners at the Independent Publisher Book Awards as well as The Deadbeat Club, Triggerfish and Zero Avenue.

A lot of the story takes place in an area called the Junction a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is near the West Toronto Diamond, a junction of four railway lines in the area. The neighbourhood was previously an independent city called West Toronto. The main intersection of the area is Dundas Street West and Keele Street.

Poughkeepsie Shuffle is the story of Jeff Nichols a man long on conviction but short on character. Fresh out of Toronto’s infamous Don Jail where a new set of trials await him as he struggles to secure housing, get a job and rekindle his relationship with Ann Ryan. Ann’s waited for his return from prison but her patience is wearing thin. Jeff’s friend and ex-inmate gets him a job selling used cars for Ted Bracey on commission but it’s not enough to pay the bills. The lure of easy money soon has him caught up in a gun smuggling operation from upstate New York, unbeknownst to Ann. He’s even able to buy them a house with the new found and ill gotten ready money. While things spiral out of control Jeff’s gritty perseverance keeps him hanging on in the hunt for Eldorado.

This blistering and uncompromising crime novel is a starkly realistic narrative told with unrestrained violence and frequently outrageous humour. This is a high-octane page turner, populated with well drawn complex and edgy characters up against seemingly impossible odds and authentic sounding dialogue.

Fans of noir crime will not be disappointed.